Refrigerator pump



[WE/V7012 2 SHEETS-SHEET l Hm N E m? NP, 3 0v HIGH PRES- SURE GAS O/L COOLER 24 r L. J. DANIEL REFRIGERATOR PUMP VLE 'L 0W PRESSURE K (was I LI Dec. 30, 1952 Filed July 14, 1947 I W Q *gkipy 8- F/Gi 26' INLET-LOW PRESSURE OUTLET- H/GHPRES- SURE 6/15 Dec. 30, 1952 L. J. DANIEL REFRIGERATOR PUMP 2 SHEETSSHEET 2 Filed July 14, 1947 LUWP/PEJZSUREGAS F 9 /IGHPREJSURE GAS INVEN TOR. LEONARD JOAN/E1.

BY @Q I w M A 7- TaENE Y6 Patented Dec. 30, 1952 PATENT OFFICE 2,623,365 mi emennnon PUMP -"Leonard j-l banfi, St. iauL M i'nn. a1i1iiiemiohimy 14, 1947, Serial Moi-760311 This -i es to new ana useful im rovements-m e friger ator and more particularly to siich piirhps "'of the rctary type adahte'd nn use in een'iie'ctien with domestic and "coin'hiei'ciai-rfri efators fer circulatinig the"usua1 t refrigerant 1311 3 ilii'il @6113; 6f the refrigerator.

rly "closed in a'suitthere" 1in ifa ger er leakuiatcd fthiiough the a" i =afit-'g ases, andthe' sea1ed oter casing-a "d' uinb housing being detachah-ly seeurea togethr whereby they matreadilir be detached fromone another "to inspect or inst-ire neee'ssar repairs thereto, Whh ="neces'sary, and "whereby nfest repairs maybe made cn the job, thereby dispensin with the necessity of having to return the eiitireabiaratus' to the-factory or a 'distant rebair shop, as is new custcinafy 'x'vith 'conventio'n'al equipment of this 'general type now an coninmm use.

"Other-objects'of thednvntion reside in the 'unique'c'onstruction of: the'pumprbody' and" motor housing whereby the entire apparatus may be made-very compact, and whereby "all working =p'arts of the device are *contained within 'a sealed chamber; --in the unique mounting of "the A motor andits connection with' the rotor; iinvthe means provided for-constantly circuiating iaf'suitable lubricant or bore 'wh'eneventhexpump: is operated 'to circulate the re'frigerant fiuid'; and' intheconstruction of such a apur'n-p which irea'dily lends itself-for mounting inconventional refrigerators with; a minimum-cf efiort and la-bor and which may be assembled as a, -co'n'vpiete "unitary-feealed "5Glaims. (oloez nmn structure to facilitate "the handling of the pump in storage and als'o in the installation of such pumps in domestic and commercial refrigerators.

Other objects of the invention will appear from the following description and the accompanying drawings and wilibepointed out in the annexed claims.

In the accompanying drawings there has been disclosed astructure designed to carry out the va'riousobjects 'of the invention, but it is to be understood thatthe invention is not confined to the exact features s'hown, a's various ch'anges'may be made within the scope of the claims which follow.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a vertical S'e'ction'alvi'ew through the completed pump; s'h'owingthe 'si mnle construction thereof;

Figure 2 is a se'ctional'plan view on the line -2- 2 of "Figure 1;

Figure 3 15a sectional plan view on the-line 3-3 of 'Figure 1;

Figure4is a view similar to Figure 3, showing the piston bladeofthe'rotor disposed in'rig'ht angular relation toth'e position shown inFigcre e;

-Fig ure 5 is a view showingthe single piston blade removed from the rotdr and partially brokenaway to more clearly emanate the construction 'j thereof Figure 6 is a view'showing' the i'dtor"reinoved "from the apparatus and with the pi's'ten time omitted;

Figure 7 is "a perspective view "of the hi'ston blade without its sealing elements;

7 Figure sisa-detail sectionalview substantially onthelin'e 8--'- 8' of Figure 1, showing only afi'adrtion of the *motor andits housingand' th'e=ineans "for spacing the "motor from the housing;

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view similar 1 to Figure 1, showing-a pump of slightly difirent construction; and

V 'Fig'u're 10is a sectional plan view on the {line 1 0-1 0 of Figure'iifshowmg the means r rspaemg the statoriaminationsfrointhe Walfofthehdhs mg, tbnrovide' "air circulating passage'utween the 'h'ousingwa11"andthe stator,

V "The novel compres or or refrigerator "hump! herein disclosed, 'as illustrated in Figure 1, is shown mprising suitable supporting biatefto which a body Q issec'ured by 'suitahle 'bolts 4,"the ppenmr n Q sa b dy being rovid d with an ;-Ini-ts preferreddorm the body 3 lis pifeterahiy inder shown in Figure 1.

by reference to Figures 3 and 4. A suitable sealing element 5 is interposed between the flange 5 and the supporting plate 2 to provide a leakproof joint therebetween, as is customary in devices of this general type.

The body 3 is shown provided at its upper end with a suitable enlarged bore 1 which extends downwardly from the top of the body 3 and terminates at its lower end in a relatively smaller bore or chamber 3, shown having a cone-shaped bottom wall A cylindrical bore H of reduced size extends downwardly from the chamber 3, and serves as a cylinder for an oil circulating pump, as will subsequently be described.

An important feature of the present invention resides in the construction of the means for circulating the refrigerant fluid through the bore "i and the usual compressor coil Iii of refrigerator, indicated in dotted lines in Figure l of the drawings.

As best shown in Figures 3 and 4, the bore 7 is provided with an outlet or discharge opening I? having one end of a conduit i3 connected thereto the opposite end of which is connected tothe high pressure side of the compressor coil l3 of the refrigerator. An upright conduit 55 has its lower end secured in the supporting plate 2 in direct communication with the upper end of the bore 7. The upper end of conduit is provides an elevated intake l3 through which the low pressure gas returning from the compressor is drawn into the pump chamber or bore '6, as will subsequently be described. See Figure l.

The means provided for thus circulating the refrigerant fluid through the apparatus is shown comprising a rotor, generally designated by the numeral it. The rotor is provided at its upper end with a hollow shaft extension ll received in a suitable bearing H3 in the supporting plate 2. The rotor has a transverse slot l9 therein which intersects the axis of the rotor, as best illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. By reference to these figures it will be noted that the rotor is of smaller diameter than the diameter of the bore 7, and that the rotor is eccentrically disposed within the bore i with its periphery substantially engaging the wall of the bore I adjacent to the discharge opening l2.

A single vane or piston blade 2|, preferably of unitary construction, is mounted in the slot IS in the rotor nd extends the full height of the rotor, as-shown in Figure 1. Suitable combination sealing and wear elements 22 are provided at'the ends of the piston blade 2| and are movable relatively thereto. Suitable spring elements 23 constantly hold the sealing elements 22 in engagement with the wall of the bore l, thereby to seal the connections between the ends of the blade 2| nd the wall of the bore E, as will be readily understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4. Oil circulating grooves 24 are shown provided on the side faces of the blade 2| to facilitate lubricating the blade, which relatively moves in the slot is of the rotor, when the rotor is rotated in the operation of the pump.

Secured to and depending from the rotor i6 is a conical extension 25 adapted to be received in the bore 8, as shown in Figure l. A spiral piston 26 is secured to and depends from the portion 25 into the relatively smaller bore or cyl- The piston 26 serves to circulate a suitable liquid lubricant such as oil, through the rotor and its supporting bore or cylinder II, when the pump is in operation, whereby the rotor is constantly supplied with an adequate supply of oil which, in addition 4 to lubricating all moving parts, also serves to seal the joints between the moving parts.

One end of a suitable conduit 21 is in communication with the lower end of the cylinder or bore II, and its opposite end may be connected to a suitable cooling unit 28 of conventional design, for cooling the oil received from the pump, as will be understood. A second conduit 29 connects the opposite end of the cooling unit 28 to a motor chamber 3| shown provided by a suitable housing 32 having its lower marginal edge secured to an annular member 33 which serves as a flange whereby the housing 32 may be conveniently secured to the supporting plate 2 by suitable bolts 34. An annular sealing element 35 is shown interposed between the flange 33 and the plate 2 to seal the connection therebetween.

A suitable electric motor 36 is mounted within the housing 32 and is shown axially disposed therein by suitable spacing elements 31, best shown in Figure 8. The spacing elements provide free circulation of the refrigerant gas between the motor and the wall of the housing, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 1. The motor 36 preferably has a fluid-tight casing whereby the introduction of the low pressure gas and oil into the housing will not in any way jeopardize the operation of the motor 36.

The motor is shown having a square shaft extension 31 received in a correspondingly shaped socket 38 provided in the upper end of the shaft extension I! of the rotor l6. A bore 39 leads from the socket 38 downwardly through the shaft extension IT to the slot IS in the rotor, and a horizontal duct 4| establishes communication between the lower portion of the chamber 3| and the bore 39 in the shaft extension I1. The lower portion of the motor chamber serves as an oil reservoir, as indicated in Figure 1. Thus when the pump is operated oil is circulated from the oil reservoir through the shaft extension I! and the ducts 24 provided in the opposed faces of the rotor vane 2|. The chamber 3| is provided at its upper end with a low pressure gas intake, generally designated by the numeral 42 to which one end of a conduit 43 is connected. The opposite end of conduit 43 is connected to the low pressure or discharge side of the compressor coil [0. Oil ducts 44 and 45 may be provided in the supporting plate 2 for conducting a portion of the oil directly onto the top of the rotor to assume adequate lubrication thereof.

In the operation of the novel apparatus herein disclosed, the motor 36 is started whereupon the rotor, which is connecteddirectly thereto, will be rotated simultaneously with the motor. Such rotation of the rotor will cause refrigerant fluid to be drawn into the bore or cylinder 1 from the motor chamber 3| by the action of the piston blade 2| because of the eccentric disposition of the rotor l6 Within the bore 1. The low pressure gas is drawn into the chamber 3| through the inlet 42, and from the chamber 3| the low pressure gas is drawn into the pump bore 1 through the conduit l5, where it is compressed and discharged from the pump through its tangentially disposed outlet |2 into the compressor coil H] in the form of a high pressure refrigerant gas.

Simultaneously, oil is drawn into the top shaft extension I! through the duct 4| by the action of the spiral piston 26, such oil being constantly circulated through the bearing of the rotor, conduit 21, cooling unit 28 and conduit 29 and back to the oil reservoir in the bottom of the motor chamber 3|, thereby providing an adequate supaces-poo sealed unit which is self-contained, is compact,

and is so constructed that it may readily and quickly be embodied in various types of refrigerators at a minimum cost. It will be noted by reference to Figure 1 that the apparatus comprises very few parts, particularly moving parts, and its construction is such that all parts are readily accessible in the event it-becomes necessary to overhaul or replace any of the parts of the pump unit.

In Figures 9- and 16 there is showna cornpressor pump of slightly differentconstruction, the main distinction residing in the construction of' the motor foroperating the rotor.

The pump shown in. Figure 9 comprises a sup porting plate 46 corresponding to the plate 2 shown in Figure l'. A pump body 41, corresponding to the body 3, in Figure l, is secured to the plate 46 by similar bolts, and a conduit 48 leads from the bottom of the body 3 to a cooling unit 28 similar to the one shown in Figme 1-. The upper end of the cooling unit 26 is connected to one end'of a conduit 49-, the opposite end of which is connected to a fitting 51 provided in the'upper wall 52 of a suitable housing 631, which, in this instance, in addition to providing an enclosing housingfor the upper portion of the apparatus,

also provides a supporting frame for the usual stator -54 of an electric motor, generally designated by the numeral 55.

A rotor 56 is secured to a shaft 51, the upper end 58 of which is shown mounted in a suitable bearing 56 provided in a plate ,6! which constitutesa portion of the supporting structure of the. motor55. By reference to Figure 9, it will be noted that the plate 6! and stator 54' are supported from the main supporting plate 46 by suitable studs 62 and spacers 63 and 64. The lower end portion 65 of the motor shaft 51 is shown coupled to the upper end portion ll of the pump rotor 16 in a manner similar to the structure illustrated in Figure 1, whereby the rotor I6 is driven directly with the motor 55, when the latter is operated. A suitable sleeve member 66 is shown fitted over the rotor shaft extension I! and has its lower end supported on a thrust ring or hearing 60 positioned upon the upper end of a bearing sleeve Ill having its lower end secured in the supporting plate 46. The upper end of the sleeve member 66 engages the enlarged portion 51 of the rotor shaft whereby the weight of the rotor is carried by the sleeve 66 on the thrust ring 60, it being understood that the sleeve 66 rotates with the rotor of the motor.

The intake to the pump from the motor chamber 61 is shown at 68, and the low pressure gas is drawn into the motor housing or chamber 61 from the compressor coil Ill through a conduit 69 similar to the conduit 43 shown in Figure 1. The high pressure refrigerant gas developed in the pump is discharged therefrom through the outlet H and into the conduit 12 which leads to the intake side of the usual coils of the refrigerator, not shown, as is well known. A filler plug 13 may be provided in the housing 52 through which a suitable lubricating oil may be introduced into the housing, as will beunderstood.

The operation of the apparatus shown in Figure 9 is substantially identical to that shown in Figure 1. the main distinction residing in the construction of the motor. In Figure 1 there is nished in its completed form independently or the.

remaining parts of the apparatus, whereas; the motor shown in Figure 9- is embodied theconstruction of the housing 52 and other partsof the apparatus, as will be-understood. Thevstator 54 is supported inspaced relation tothe-cy-lindrical wall of the housingby suitablemeans; such as rod-like spacers-l4, shownin- Figure 1 0.

If desired, suitable springs or cushion-elements, not shown, may be utilized in lieu ofthe spacing sleeves 63 and 64, toabsorb vibration, shouldit be deemed necessary. In other words, bymount,- ing the motor within a sealed housingas herein disclosed and connecting it directly'to the pump by asingle slip-type coupling, the sealed unit, including the motorand pump, will beextremely silent in operation and-is seli lubricatingwhich are highly desirable features in a refrigerator unit ofthis general type.

It will be apparent'to those skilled: in-theart that I have accomplished at least the; principal objects of my invention, and it will also be apparent to those skilled in the, art that the embodimen-ts herein described may 7 be variously changed" and modified without departingfrom the spiritoi the invention, and that the im'rention is: capable of uses and has advantages not herein specifically described; hence it will be appreciated that the herein disclosed embodiments arei'l lustrative only, and that my invention is notlimited thereto. i

I claim as my invention:

1. A compressor pump comprising a body having a cylindricalbore provided with intake and discharge openings, means forming an oil reservoir, a rotor eccentrically' disposed in said bore and having a. hollow shaft extension at its upper.

end, a motor connected to said shaft extension, a

single piston blade mounted for relative movement in the, rotor and having its ends sealing'l-y engaging the cylindrical wall ofthe bore, anion circulating pump in the lower portion of said body comprising a reduced bore extending downwardly from said enlarged bore and forming a cylinder, a spiral piston secured directly to and operable with the rotor to constantly circulate a lubricant downwardly through said hollow shaft to lubricate the rotor and piston blade, and a conduit for conducting the lubricant back to the oil reservoir from the oil pump.

2. A compressor pump comprising a body having an oil reservoir therein and an enlarged cylindrical bore provided with intake and discharge openings, a compressor coil in communication with said bore, a rotor eccentrically mounted in said bore and having a hollow shaft extension at its upper end, a motor connected to said shaft extension, a single double-acting piston blade in said rotor made operable by the eccentric action of said rotor to circulate a refrigerant gas through said compressor coil, an oil circulating pump in the lower portion of said body comprising a reduced bore extending downwardly from said enlarged bore and forming a cylinder, a spiral piston secured to and operable with the rotor to constantly circulate a lubricant through said hollow shaft to lubricate the rotor and its piston blade, and a conduit for conducting the lubricant back to the oil reservoir from the oil pump.

3. A compressor pump comprising a body having an oil reservoir and an enlarged cylindrical bore provided with intake and discharge openings, a compressor coil in communication with said bore, a rotor mounted in said bore and having a hollow shaft extension at its upper endya .motor connected to said shaft extension, means establishing communication between the reservoir and said enlarged bore, said rotor having a transverse slot therein, a single piston blade mounted in said slot and operable by rotation of said rotor to circulate a refrigerant gas through the compressor coil, an oil circulating pump in the lower portion of said body comprising a reduced bore extending downwardly from said enlarged bore and forming a cylinder, a spiral piston secured to and operable with the rotor to constantly circulate a lubricant through said hollow shaftto lubricate the rotor and pump means therein.

4. In an apparatus of the class described, a housing having means for supporting a motor therein, said housing being closed at its upper end and having its lower end mounted upon and secured to a supporting plate in sealtight relation thereto and whereby the lower portion of the housing may serve as a reservoir to contain a liquid lubricant, a cylindrical body detachably secured to the bottom side of said plate and depending therefrom, said body having an enlarged bore therein adjacent to said plate, an upright conduit having its lower end in communication with said enlarged bore and having its upper end in communication with said housing above the oil level therein, a compressor coil having its discharge end in communication with the upper portion of said housing above the oil level and having its intake end in communication with said bore, a rotor eccentrically mounted in said bore and having a hollow shaft extension r0- tatably supported in said plate and extendingupwardly into said housing and connected to'the motor shaft, the diameter of said rotor being less than the diameter of said bore, said rotor having a transverse slot therein disposed in the axis of said rotor, a single piston blade movably mounted in said slot and having its opposed ends sealingly engaging the wall of said bore and cooperating with said wall and the periphery of said rotor to provide diametrically disposed compression chambers, an oil pump in the lower portion of said cylindrical body having a conduit connecting its discharge end with said housing above the oil level therein, whereby oil circulated from the oil reservoir through the shaft bearing in said plate is returned to the housing above the oil level, said piston blade serving as a double acting pump to continually circulate a refrigerant gas through the compressor coil when the apparatus is in operation.

5. An apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the hollow shaft extension of the rotor has a slip fit with the motor shaft to permit complete detachment of the pump body from the supporting plate of the housing, including the rotor and oil pump.

LEONARD J. DANIEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

